Projectili



Jan. 29 19249 1,483,872

C. H. MILLER PROJECTILE Filed May 24, 1923 3 muewto'c:

Patented-Jan. 29, 1924.

um'r'an STA-TES- 1,481,872 PATENT, OFFICE.

CHARLES H. MILLER, OF LINEVILLE, IOWA.

rnoancrrm Application filed Kay 24, 1923. Serial No. 841,078,

-To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHAnLEs-H. MILLER, citizen 'of the United States, residin at Lineville, in the count of'Wayne and tate of Iowa, have invented certain new. and us"- ful Improvements in Projectiles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ammunition, and more especially to projectiles; and its objects are to produce a bullet or projectile which might be said to carry its own cartridge, since nothing remains 1n the gun after firing and hence there is no cartridge shell to be ejected; to im rove the structure of the bullet itself, facilitate its loading, and pre vent undue expansion and distortion in firing; and to improve the structure of the closed and preferably tapered and thichen at its front end and internally reduced but not closed at its rear end. Within the latter is rather closely fitted a thimble T as ofsteel, the forward portion of the thimble being expanded within the bone of the bullet, and its rearward portion C being substantially cylindrical and extending to a line flush withv the rear end of the bullet as shown. A firing pin or anvil'A, such as a steel or iron. rod, is embedded at its front end in the front end of the bullet, extends thence along the axis of its bore, and stands at its rear end within the cylindrical portion C p of the. thimble. Finally, a jacket J as of soft steel, copper, or the like closely encloses the bullet, is crimped at its rearend R- 'around the rear end of the bullet, and is thence carried inward as at I around the cylindrical part of the thimble.

The projectile as thus fardescribed is loaded by pouring-the charge of explosive'E into the bore or chamber within the bullet B around the anvil A, and pressing, tamping, or otherwise firming it in place. Either before or after loading,

the rear extremity of .the thimble' is expanded orupset as at X to lock it to the inturned or crimped ortion of the jacket. When the charge is complete, the thimble is closed with a wad, preferably a molded grain G of powder which is wed ed tightly into the cylindrical portion C 0 such thimble and preferably coated or painted over externally with shellac or waterproof varnish; and this closure carries the primer P which now stands adjacent the rear end of the anvil A, yet out of contact therewith so that the article cannot be fired by accident or careless use.

While primarily intended for use in rapidfire and automatlc fire-arms, I do not wish to'be'limited to that use of this improved projectile; nor to its size, shape, and specific details of construction. For instance, b use of a proper charge, or portions thereo the projectile might .become' an incendiaryor tracer-bullet; and other amplifications and modifications will occur to the maker. While I prefer always to employ a waterproof coating on theprimer grain or wad, the breech of the projectile when used on automatic small-arms; would be further protected by the tin-coated clips containing ten shells-each, and for rapid-fire arms the projectiles would be assembled in light "flat tubes of a hundred each.-

In any use, the projectile is inserted into the gun and fired by the usual firing mechanism. The firing pin drives the grain or wad G forward, the primer P is exploded b impact with the anvil A, and the charge El is fired at a point within the thimbl'e. t is possible that the latter may be given a gentle taper and the material of the bullet B and jacket J may be such that the expansion of the gases will drive the thimble slightly to the rear within them and ex pand them radially into the riflin of the gun; but this is not necessary alt ough it may sometimes be considered desirable. The rapidly expanding gases and exploding charge drive the wad or grain G out the rear end, and if it be owder it is entirely consumed, so that not]? The entire projectile is now ejected bythe charge squirting out the open rear end thereof, and it continues to be so emitted in the flight of the bullet throu 11' its courseevenperhaps under water. e gun'is instantly ready for renewed use, as obviously there is no cartridge shell to be ejected. What I claim isp 1. A projectile comprising a cuppedbuling is left within the gun.

tightl 3. g projectile comprising a tubular bullet closed at its front end, an anvil fixed along its axis. an explosive charge surrounding the anvil, a thimble in the open rear end of the bullet, a wad in the thimble, and a primer carried by the wad in juxtaposition to the anvil.

4:. Same as'claim 3, plus: that portion of the timble surrounding the wad being substantially tubular. and the forward portion within the bullet being flared.

5. Same as claim 4, plus: and a jacket surrounding the bullet, crimped over its rear end, and turned forward around the tubular portion of the thimble.

6. Same as claim 3, plus: and a jacket surrounding the bullet at its rear end and carried forward around the thimble, the latter being expanded to lock it to the jacket.

7. In a projectile, the combination with a tubular bullet closed at its front end, a

within the open rear end of the bullet, and ajacket enclosing the entire bullet and turned in around said portion of the thimble and v fastened thereto; of a wad and primer within said portion, and a firing charge in the bullet.

' 8. Same as claim 7, plus: and means within the bullet to ignite said primer when the Wad is driven forward by the firing pin.

9. Same as claim 7, plus: said thimble being flaring at its forward portion and the bore of the bullet tapered to fit thereon.

10. Same as claim 7, plus: such wad being a grain of powder sha )ed to fit said tubular portion frictionally, afiring anvil fixed within the bullet in juxtaposition to said primer, and means for preventing the ejection of the thimble from the bullet by the explosion of its charge.

11. Same as claim 10, plus: said last named means including the enlargement of the forward portion of the thimble and the shaping of the bore of the bullet to fit, thereon. I

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

CHARLES H. MILLER. 

